'Things I Know. I'm a bad person. 
I miss Finn. I could easily
be a murderer.'

Twice-Carnegie-medal-nominated author Helena Close  returns with a powerful new YA novel.

Saoirse can't wait to leave school – but just before the Leaving Cert her ex-boyfriend dies by suicide. Everyone blames Saoirse, and her rumbling anxieties spiral out of control.

Saoirse finds herself flailing in swirling waters that threaten to suck her into the depths. No-one can save her – not her lovely nan; not the gorgeous boy who tries to love her; and certainly not her cheap-wisdom counsellor.

Can Saoirse, against all odds, rescue the self she used to know?

“Incredible 5 read … I walked every heartache and pain, every high and low of this journey with Saoirse. Mental health issues are drawn so vividly and heartbreakingly, whilst also showing the love and laughs alongside.” – Karla’s Bookish Life

“An engaging, thought-provoking, moving read that sheds light on the realities of depression while offering honest glimmers of hope.” – LoveReading Expert Review

“Close has a great ear for dialogue and a keen eye for the often-stifling dynamics of small-town life … Read it – and buy a second copy to thrust into the hands of the next platitude-utterer you encounter.”  – Claire Hennessy, The Irish Times

""A delightfully scathing look at the platitudes around mental health ... The sharp wit of the protagonist Saoirse and the pitch-perfect dialogue make this book a pleasure to read." – The Irish Times

“Tells a compelling story … without flinching from tackling dark topics including mental health and suicide.” – The Limerick Post

“An accurate portrayal of a young person’s challenges, this book is also full of hope, love and laughter.” – The Sunday Independent

“A beautifully crafted story.” – Paper Lanterns

“A bittersweet, honest look at loss and trauma.” – Kirkus Reviews

From Limerick City in the west of Ireland, Helena Close has been writing full-time for twenty years. She has written or co-written seven novels, published by Hodder Headline (under the pseudonym Sarah O’Brien), Hachette Ireland and Blackstaff Press. Things I Know is her second young adult novel.